US equities were higher in 2021 with the S&P 500 up for a third straight year. There were a number of big themes in focus during the year. Covid vaccinations formed a key piece of the bullish narrative, particularly over the first several months of the year.
The majority of equity indices ended down for the third quarter of 2021 though the S&P 500 put up a positive return for a sixth straight quarter. For most of the quarter, markets performed well against the background of easy financial conditions…
Equity markets posted strong returns in the second quarter of 2021 as a substantial decline in U.S. COVID-19 cases combined with a fast-paced economic reopening across the country led to a surge in economic growth that helped stocks rally to new highs over the past three months.
As ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing trends have steadily risen, comparing ESG ratings and metrics has become more and more complicated. Over time the process has evolved from a values-based, often exclusionary approach in the 1970s …
The year started out on an uncertain note with protestors storming the United States Capitol, emergence of new virus mutations, the uneven distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, and unusual, highly targeted trading activity and stock price manipulation from retail investors involving several companies.